Donna Kastner, who recently was promoted to vice president, expo/sponsor sales and activation with Velvet Chainsaw Consulting, tossing the Catchbox throwable microphone to a participant in a session she led on the secrets to stimulate more revenue through sponsorships.

Cvent staffers (from left to right) Cara Krueger, David Johnson, Rachel Gorsky, Jack Bleyaert, and Beeta Soltani joined Caroline Hartman, Aimia (third from right), in celebrating a successful kickoff to the event at the first evening’s colorful, kaleidoscope-themed welcome reception and dinner at The Venetian.

A few thousand additional virtual attendees tuned into the live broadcast of a session featuring meeting and event planners discussing how they use technology. Pictured are Julie Pugh, Cisco; Kim Scott, Illumina; and Kimberly Throne, John Deere World Headquarters, with moderator Cvent's Eric Eden.

A ballroom was set aside as the Ask the Experts and Innovation Pavillion, which in addition to setting the stage for several mini-theater demos was a consistently popular place to hang out and meet with other attendees and ever-present Cvent staffers.

Meeting management technology company Cvent’s new Association Meetings Summit paired with its Corporate Meetings Summit for a blockbuster event in Las Vegas in June that drew 1,000 attendees to learn how technology is transforming the events of today—and tomorrow. Photos are courtesy of Cvent.

To get started, here's a drone's-eye view of what the energizing opening general session was like, taken by redbutton.tv's BUZZair drone and featuring artist/author/speaker Erik Wahl: